Brendan Rodgers has been able to lift Reading up the Championship table Photograph: John Sibley/Action Images

Reading have parted company with their manager Brendan Rodgers by mutual consent. The Royals have had a difficult season and sit 21st in the Championship, having won only one of their 11 home league games.

A statement on the club's official website said: "Following a meeting this afternoon, the chairman, the board of Reading Football Club and Brendan Rodgers have agreed by mutual consent that Brendan Rodgers will leave his position as first-team manager with immediate effect. Reading Football Club will make no further comment at this stage."

Rodgers took over in June from Steve Coppell, who left the club after five-and- a-half years in charge having taken them up to the Premier League for two years. Coppell resigned after failing to gain promotion back to the top flight at the end of last season.

Rodgers managed Reading's youth teams between 1995-2004 after retiring as a player at the age of 20, before managerial spells with the Chelsea youth and reserve teams and with Watford, where he stayed just seven months.

Reading face a trip to Bristol City on Saturday and host Liverpool in the FA Cup on 2 January.